Circumferential abdominoplasty

A body contouring procedure after obesity surgery

Dr. Berish Strauch, chairman of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, has developed a modified version of body contouring procedure for patients who undergo some kind of weight loss surgery. He calls it Circumferential abdominoplasty - it is more extensive than a standard tummy tuck, and involves additional operating room time, more blood loss and increased recovery time. After recovery, typically three months later, further body contouring procedures are considered such as brachioplasty (trimming underarm 'wings') as well as thigh, face, neck and back lifts.  (Related:  Body contouring surgery risks)

According to Dr. Strauch, "A traditional abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is insufficient for these patients, who after this kind of extreme weight loss require a special operation called a circumferential adbominoplasty, a type of complicated, mid-body lift, which we have modified."   "We trim excess skin from the stomach, thighs and buttocks in one operation, rotating the patient carefully on the operating table during the surgery," Dr. Strauch said. "At a later date, we perform plastic surgery on other areas of the body. This staged approach improves the patients' quality of life, has wonderful esthetic results and has proven to be safe and effective."

If you have had this procedure or are considering having it, please discuss it in our forums.

Related:  Medicare pay for gastric bypass surgery   Benefits of gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery risks